Interactive Soil Quality Assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Resilience

Objective

Knowledge regarding the complex interplay between agricultural land use and management and soil quality and function is fragmented and incomplete, in particular with regard to underlying principles and regulating mechanisms. The main aim of iSQAPER is to develop an interactive soil quality assessment tool (SQAPP) for agricultural land users that integrates newly derived process understanding and accounts for the impact of agricultural land use and management on soil properties and functions, and related ecosystem services. For this purpose, >30 long-term experimental field trials in the EU and China will be analysed to derive regulating principles for integration in SQAPP. SQAPP will be developed using a multi-actor approach aiming at facilitating social innovation and providing options to land users for cost-effective agricultural management activities to enhance soil quality and crop productivity. SQAPP will be tested extensively in 14 dedicated Case Study Sites in the EU and China covering a wide spectrum of farming systems and pedo-climatic zones, and rolled-out across the continents thereafter. Within the Case Study sites a range of alternative agricultural practices will be selected, implemented and evaluated with regard to effects on improving soil quality and crop productivity. Proven practices will be evaluated for their potential applicability at EU and China levels, and to assess the related soil environmental footprint under current and future agricultural trends and various agricultural policy scenarios. How the soil quality tool can be utilized for different policy purposes, e.g. in cross compliance and agro-environmental measures, will also be investigated and demonstrated. A comprehensive dissemination and communication strategy, including a web-based information portal, will ensure that project results are available to a variety of stakeholders at the right time and in appropriate formats to enhance soil quality and productivity in the EU and China.

Field of science

• /social sciences/economics and business/economics/production economics/productivity
• /natural sciences/biological sciences/ecology/ecosystems
• /agricultural sciences/agriculture, forestry, and fisheries/agriculture
• /natural sciences/earth and related environmental sciences/soil science/edaphology
• /agricultural sciences/animal and dairy science

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Topic(s)

• SFS-04-2014 - Soil quality and function

Call for proposal

H2020-SFS-2014-2
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY

Address

Droevendaalsesteeg 4
6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 1 198 750

Participants (24)

JRC -JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE- EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Belgium

EU contribution

€ 226 250

Address

Rue De La Loi 200
1049 Brussels

Activity type

Research Organisations

FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT FUR BIOLOGISCHEN LANDBAU STIFTUNG

Switzerland

EU contribution

€ 0

Address

Ackerstrasse 113
5070 Frick

Activity type

Research Organisations

UNIVERSITAET BERN

Switzerland

EU contribution

€ 0

Address

Hochschulstrasse 6
3012 Bern

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERSIDADE DE EVORA

Portugal

EU contribution

€ 323 750

Address

Largo Dos Colegiais 2
7000 803 Evora

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID

Spain

EU contribution

€ 333 750

Address

Calle Ramiro De Maeztu 7 Edificio Rectorado
28040 Madrid

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, LONDON

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 357 500

Address

Belgrave Road 11 Ieep Offices Floor 3
SW1V 1RB London

Activity type

Research Organisations

FONDAZIONE MEDES

Italy

EU contribution

€ 351 250

Address

Contrada San Licandro 1
84029 Sicignano Degli Alburni

Activity type

Research Organisations

STICHTING INTERNATIONAL SOIL REFERENCE AND INFORMATION CENTRE

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 257 500

Address

Droevendaalsesteeg 3 - Build 101
6708 PB Wageningen

Activity type

Research Organisations

STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 385 000

Address

Droevendaalsesteeg 4
6708 PB Wageningen

Activity type

Research Organisations

INSTYTUT AGROFIZYKI POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK

Poland

EU contribution

€ 185 000

Address

Doswiadczalna 4
20290 Lublin

Activity type

Research Organisations

EESTI MAAULIKOOL

Estonia

EU contribution

€ 173 750

Address

Kreutzwaldi 1
51014 Tartu

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI

Slovenia

EU contribution

€ 181 250

Address

Kongresni Trg 12
1000 Ljubljana

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU PEDOLOGIE, AGROCHIMIE SI PROTECTIA MEDIULUI

Romania

EU contribution

€ 128 125

Address

Str B Dul Marasti 61 Sector 1
011464 Bucuresti

Activity type

Research Organisations

INSTITUTO POLITECNICO DE COIMBRA

Portugal

EU contribution

€ 185 625

Address

Rua Da Misericordia, Lagar Dos Corticos
3045-093 Coimbra

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERSIDAD MIGUEL HERNANDEZ DE ELCHE

Spain

EU contribution

€ 185 375

Address

Avenida De La Universidad S-n
03202 Elche

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

GEOPONIKO PANEPISTIMION ATHINON

Greece

EU contribution

€ 215 000

Address

Iera Odos 75
118 55 Athina

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning CAAS

China

EU contribution

€ 0

Address

Zhongguancun Nan Da Jie 12
100081 Beijing

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

NORTHWEST A&F UNIVERSITY

China

EU contribution

€ 0

Address

Taicheng Road 3
712100 Yangling

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

SOIL AND FERTILIZER INSTITUTE, SICHUAN ACADEMY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (SAAS)

China

EU contribution

€ 0

Address

Shizishan Road 2 Jinjiang District
610066 Chengdu

Activity type

Research Organisations

CLARINGBOULD HELEEN ELSA

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 106 250

Address

Buys Ballotstraat 35
3572 ZT Utrecht

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

STICHTING BOTH ENDS

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 196 250

Address

Nieuwe Keizersgracht 45
1018 VC Amsterdam

Activity type

Other

PANNON EGYETEM

Hungary

EU contribution

€ 200 000

Address

Egyetem U 10
8200 Veszprem

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

INSTITUTE OF SOIL SCIENCE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

China

EU contribution

€ 0

Address

Bejing Donglu 71 Nanjing
210008 Nanjing

Activity type

Research Organisations

GAEC DE LA BRANCHETTE

France

EU contribution

€ 185 000

Address

Lieu Dit Les Branchettes
35370 Argentre Du Plessis

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)